Bow Strings - How?

Post by **Naggie** » 16 Nov 2006, 17:18

Greetings, better and more experienced painted and modellers!

I have been thinking about our models now, and when creating ym army I would like to be a bit more original than my basic conversions and the painting scheme. I would like to add strings to my bows! I know they might break loose and get lost, but I think it could enchance the whole look of the army, and I think it would look more realistic.

However, I am torn as to the attacking of this problem. I've come up with some solutions. I could use some very small dril (or simply a needle) and drill a hole in the bows. Through that hole, I could insert a piece of wire or a piece of string and tie a knot to attach it. My other idea was to crave small dents on the sides of the bow edges and thus create a place for the string/wire to rest. Which of these solutions sounds more promising?

Thanks in advance!

Nagathi
The Spirit Keeper

Post by **Beithir Seun** » 16 Nov 2006, 17:25

i think drilling the bows could create problems for you i.e the bows splitting, cracking etc and also knots at the ends of the bow would look quite unrealistic IMO

your best bet would probably be to carve dents and use string, as string is far more flexible to work with then wire and looks more convincing than wire (after all they are meant to be strings...)

hope that helps, Nag

Post by **sarlinspellweaver** » 16 Nov 2006, 18:15

Personally, I've found that wire works better with a dent (I guess some models, like the Waywatcher Lord could be strong enough to cope with holes being drilled into them - depends on how dextrous and skilled you feel).

I guess with plastic bows you could drill a small slot (rather than a complete hole to the other side) into either end, place the wire in one section, bend the plastic gently and slot it into the other end - would probably never fall out. Not tried this though, so I'm going to have to do a couple of test runs first. Obviously this method would use wire...

Beithir Seun's right - string does look more realistic, but it doesn't tend to get broken as easily by idiotic friends who inisist on mauling every model on the tabletop. Unless you are trying to get a seriously cool looking force, which inevitably means spending a considerable amount of time on it, then I'd limit bowstrings to characters or possibly Waywatchers too. It does occassionally look a bit discordant, but I figure that my Glade Guard have bowstrings made from unicorn hair or something

Post by **Naggie** » 16 Nov 2006, 18:21

The wire can always be painted with Bleached bone to look more like real string. The thickness of that string would be bigger than usual, yes, but it would actually be visible too.
I'm gonna test some things tonight, but keep comments coming. Especially if you've tried something that has worked for you.

Nagathi
The Spirit Keeper

Post by **Hyarion** » 16 Nov 2006, 21:00

I would use fishing line and paint it brown/bleached bone.

Post by **Beithir Seun** » 16 Nov 2006, 21:07

actually fishing line could work quite well i hadnt thought of that!

unfortunately i havent tried using wire i just assumed string would be best so thats what i used for a couple of figures. Sarlinspellweaver (bit of a mouthful!!) has a good point though - it might be worth just using it on characters because it does take quite a lot of effort!!

Post by **Naggie** » 16 Nov 2006, 21:09

I'm prepared to put down a lot of effort on my main army

That's not an issue. The issue is more how to make it not break

Nagathi
The Spirit Keeper

Post by **Beithir Seun** » 16 Nov 2006, 21:12

you could always try the different techniques on spare bows or something, because then it wouldnt matter if it did break i still think dents would be best but try it out and see what happens!

btw i admire your willpower!! i wouldnt have the determination to give bow strings to all my models!!!

Post by **Highborn Sycath** » 16 Nov 2006, 21:12

strings way to thick, make it with wire/fishing line by drilling a small hole.

Post by **Naggie** » 16 Nov 2006, 21:16

It's only a matter of 48 or so bows for 2150 pts. I don't intend on finishing this very soon

I will try the fishin line after the weekend. Both by dents and the needle hole. I'll try on some of my spare bows.

Nagathi
The Spirit Keeper

Post by **Beithir Seun** » 16 Nov 2006, 21:16

you can get almost hair-thin string from some hobby/art stores so i dont think there would be a problem with the string being too thick

Post by **Tethlis** » 16 Nov 2006, 21:45

hyarion wrote:I would use fishing line and paint it brown/bleached bone.

I was going to propose the same thing. Fishing line is more rigid than string and therefore easier to work with, but is fine enough that it would look more convincing than wire.

Post by **sarlinspellweaver** » 17 Nov 2006, 02:51

Beithir Seun wrote:Sarlinspellweaver (bit of a mouthful!!)

You can call me Will if it helps...

Hadn't thought of fishing line - that's actually a really good idea. I might try it myself (got a "few"

glade guard and a unit of WW left to finish). Should solve the problem of it breaking too - I imagine fishing line has to be fairly strong.

Post by **Beithir Seun** » 17 Nov 2006, 16:48

ok then Will it is!!

how about using sewing thread?? you could also get a specific sort of cream colour to save painting it...

Post by **Hyarion** » 17 Nov 2006, 16:50

Beithir Seun wrote:ok then Will it is!!

how about using sewing thread?? you could also get a specific sort of cream colour to save painting it...

Sewing thread is too fragile compared to fishing line

Post by **Beithir Seun** » 17 Nov 2006, 16:57

possibly but its not really going to break unless someone snaps it o purpose really. it wont exactly disintergrate when you touch it...

Post by **Naggie** » 17 Nov 2006, 18:25

I still want the string to be visible without having to look too closely. Sewing string might be too thin, and also toofragile as transporting has always been an issue. The GW army cases aren't really designed for the new models. Some pressure here and a little shake there and the strings will snap.

Nagathi
The Spirit Keeper

Post by **Yerune** » 17 Nov 2006, 23:58

Hmm, something no one suggested yet..

But with plastic models, the easiest way to make holes is using a hot really thin needle. You just melt thru the plastic. Note that you still need a really steady hand just like a drill or you melt everything away.

If a hot needle is too hot for you, just put one end on a winebottle-curk(or whatever the thing is called in english =p)

Post by **Foxtale** » 18 Nov 2006, 10:41

Have you tried using a thin, thin sewing needle?

Post by **MortenLarsen** » 18 Nov 2006, 10:48

I would surgest you use thin fishing strings. Don't drill or carve anything, use tie a node around the bow top and buttom.

I know there excist some sort of tool to make the nodes easily...

Post by **Naggie** » 18 Nov 2006, 12:31

With fishing line, do you think it sticks with plastic glue?

Nagathi
The Spirit Keeper

Post by **Beithir Seun** » 18 Nov 2006, 14:29

as far as im aware fishing line is a plastic (correct me if im wrong) so it should glue with plastic glue

Post by **Naggie** » 19 Nov 2006, 21:50

If it sticks well with plastic glue, I might not need to carve as deep...

Nagathi
The Spirit Keeper

Post by **Anardakil** » 29 Dec 2006, 01:25

Vanlig sytråd funkar hur bra som helst. Kolla in mina glade guards

http://www.woodelves.org/Asrai/viewtopi ... highlight=

jag har knutit fast tråden och limmat med superlim.

Post by **Naggie** » 29 Dec 2006, 01:49

I might try that. I still haven't found time to get to my GGuards yet. I will try when I get a hold of some fishing line.

~ Nag

Asrai.org

Bow Strings - How?

How should Nagathi attach his strings?

Bow Strings - How?